Surface marking device for containers



Oct. 6, 1953 c. A. COSTANZO SURFACE MARKING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 50, 1948 IN VENTOxE 0 w m m C A m, W

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1953 SURFACE MARKING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Carmen A. Costanzo, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application October 30,1948, Serial No. 57,547

4 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to a device for marking surfaces formed of metal or other material.

The main purpose of this invention is to produce a device which may be used for marking containers, such as cans, after they have been filled and sealed. For example, in the fish canning industry large numbers of cans are packed at a time. Inspectors go through each pack and open a few cans to test the grade of the fish contained in them. If the fish does not measure up to the required standards, it is graded B. This fact must be indicated on the can in such a way that it cannot be removed. At present, there is no satisfactory way of doing this, the chief difiiculty being that none of the known stamping or marking devices can satisfactorily operate on a thin metal surface which is not supported at the exact points where it is marked.

This invention makes it possible to impress on a filled can any desired marking without injuring the can or its contents. This is accomplished by providing a base having a working face, and means associated with the base for drawing a surface to be marked against the working face. In this example, the end of the can is drawn against the working face. One or more marking dies are movably mounted in the base and are adapted to move outwardly through the working face, and means is provided for driving the die or dies against the can surface drawn against said face. The surface is preferably drawn against the working face by suction means, although magnetic means may be applied. While this device is particularly designed for marking cans, it is to be understood that it ma be used for marking any surface. It is particularly useful in places where it is not practical to place a die or pressure plate behind the surface area to be marked.

Examples of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a surface marking device,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 1 with the can removed,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative similar to the device shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through another alternative surface marking de vice.

Referring to the drawings, It! is a base having a working face I l which may be fiat or shaped to receive the end l2 of a can If. In Figure 1, suitable sealing means is provided at the working face, and this may be in the form of an endless sealing ring l5 formed of suitable compressible material which is substantially flush with the working face. The sealing ring in this example is circular, and as most cans have an annular flange ll at the ends thereof, this ring is provided with a groove ill in its surface into which this flange may extend.

Suction means is provided for drawing the surface or end I2 against the working face I l. One

way of accomplishing this is to form at least one passage 29 in the base which opens outwardly through the working face at 2! within the ring l5. A pipe 22 connects the end of the passage 20 to suitable suction apparatus, not

. shown.

end and the working face through the passage 2B. Thus, the surface or end 12 is held firmly against the working face, and the sealing ring prevents the vacuum from being broken.

One or more marking dies 25 are movably mounted in the base It and are adapted to move outwardly through the working face. The size, shape and number of these dies depends upon what marking is to be impressed on the can end. Figure 2 shows three of these marking dies, each having suitable indicia 25 on its outer end. A stem '2! extends downwardly from each marking die through the base. Each stem slidably fits in the base and a packing ring 23 may be provided at the point where the stem projects beyond the bottom of the base. Suitable means is provided for driving each die against the can surface. Each die may be pressed against the surface or it may be given a sharp blow to impress its indic-ia on said surface. Each die may be operated independently of the others, but in this example all the dies are moved at the same time. This may be accomplished by an electric vibrator 30 of any well-known construction which vibrates a plate 3! located beneath the lower ends of the stems 27. The plate Si is shown as being spaced from the stem ends, but

it is to be understood that it may always be in contact with them. When the plate is spaced from the stem ends the dies are given a series of sharp blows by the plate, and the sharpness of the blows depends upon the normal space between said plate and the stems. If the stems rest on the plate, the blows are not as sharp as they otherwise would be. If desired, springs 33 may be provided for urging the stems and their dies into their lowermost positions. Each spring may lie between a washer or shoulder 34 on the stem and the bottom of the base Hi. When a can It is held in place on the working face of the base by the suction means, the

- vibrator may be operated to drive the marking a rib 38 which projects above the; working face H of the base In. The marking dies 25 are all located within the sealing ring. When the suction is applied, the can end is drawn against the rib 38 of the sealing ring so that the latter pre:-. vents any appreciable amount of air from entering the space between the can and the working face. With this arrangement, the device may be used for marking any flat surface since the rib, 38 of the sealing ring projects outwardly from the working face and surrounds the area to be marked. This area is firmly held in place by the action of the vacuum. In other words, the surface to be marked is firmly held at the point where it is struck by the marking die or dies. The alternative of Figure 3 with its ribbed sealing ring may be used on any surface, whereas the grooved sealing ring of Figure 1 is primarily for areas having protruding flanges surrounding them.

In Figure 4, the base I is preferably formed of soft iron, and an electric coil 42 is wound around a portion of said base to form therewith an electro-magnet. The working face H of this base may be fiat or it may be shaped to fit the surface to be marked. When it is. intended for marking cans, the working face may be provided with grooves 43 for receiving the. ribs and flanges of the can ends;

In this example, the can end is magnetically drawn against the working face of the base, where. it is held while the marking die or dies are driven against it.

From the above, it will be seen that this is a very simple and efficient device for marking, surfaces. Although it is particularly designed for the ends of filled cans or containers, it may be. used on any surface. It is particularly useful for marking thin material which is liable to be deformed by the marking operation. It is also very useful for very large surfaces which make it inconvenient to place a die or supporting plate behind the area being marked. This device may be permanently mounted, or it may bemade into a compact portable unit which, may be used for. many different purposes.

What I claim as my invention l. A device for permanently marking: without. deforming thin surfaces of closed-containers, such: as food cans, having an annular flange projecting outwardly from the surface around the. area to be marked, comprising a base having a working. face, an annular sealing ring formed-v of com.- pressible material mounted in the face substantially flush therewith against which the. flange of a container may be placed, suction means in the base opening outtherefrom within thesealing ring firmly to draw the portionof the container surface within saidringtowards the base and the centre flangeagainst the ring, a marking die movably mounted in the base. and, opening outwardly through the working face thereofwithin the sealing ring opposite the container sur-- face to be marked, indicia on the outer end of. the die, and means mounted at the basefor moving the die against the container surface. drawn by suction towards the base; to-impresstheindicia into said surface.

2. A device for permanently marking thin sur-' faces. of closed containers, such as food cans, without deforming the containers, comprising a base having a working face, an annular sealing ring formed of compressible metalimounted-in the working face and having arib projecting beyond said'face, saidringandxribi surroundingtirer-container surface to. be marked when a. container is held against the rib, suction means in the base opening out therefrom within the sealing ring firmly to draw said container surface towards the base and against the rib, a marking die movably mounted in the base and opening outwardly through the working face thereof within the sealing ring opposite the container surfaceto be marked, indicia on the outer end of the die, and means mounted at the base for moving the die against the container surface drawn by suction towards the base to impress the indicia into said surface.

3. A device for permanently marking without deforming thin surfaces of closed containers, such as food cans, having an annular flange pro- "jecting outwardly from the surface around the area to be marked, comprising a base having a working face, an annular sealing ring formed of compressible material mounted in the face substantially flush therewith against which the flange of a container may be placed, suction 3 marking die movably mounted in the base and opening outwardly through the working face thereof within the sealing ring opposite the container surface to be marked, indicia on the outerend of the die, and means mounted at the base for rapidly vibrating the die against the container surface drawn by suction towards the working face of the base to impress the indicia into said surface without deforming the latter.

4. A device for permanently marking thin surfaces of closed containers, suchv as food cans, without deforming the containers, comprising a base having a working face, an annular sealing ring formed of compressible metal mounted in the working face and having a rib projecting beyond said face, said ring and rib surrounding the container surface to be marked when a container is held against the rib, suction means in the base opening out therefrom within the sealing ring firmly to draw said container surface towards the base and, against the rib, a marking die movably mounted. in the base and opening outwardly through the working, face thereof within the sealing ring. opposite the container surface to be marked, indicia on the outer end of the die,. and means mounted at the base for rapidly vibrating the die against the container surface drawn by suction towards the working face of the base to impress the indicia into. said surfacewithout. deforming thev latter.

CARMEN A. COSTANZO;

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